Webster's New World Medical Dictionary

Dx
Abbreviation for diagnosis, the determination
of the nature of a disease.
dys-
Prefix denoting bad or difficult, as in dys-
pepsia (difficult digestion).
dysarthria
Speech that is characteristically
slurred, slow, and difficult to understand. A person
with dysarthria may also have problems controlling
the pitch, loudness, rhythm, and voice qualities of
his or her speech. Dysarthria is caused by paralysis,
weakness, or inability to coordinate the muscles of
the mouth. Dysarthria can occur as a developmen-
tal disability. It may be a sign of a neuromuscular
disorder such as cerebral palsy or Parkinson’s dis-
ease. It may also be caused by a stroke, brain injury,
or brain tumor. Treatment of dysarthria includes
intensive speech therapy with a focus on oral-motor
skill development.
dyscalculia
A specific developmental disability
that affects a person’s ability to conceptualize and
perform mathematics. Mild cases can often be com-
pensated for with use of a calculator, but those with
severe dyscalculia need special education services.
dysentery
Inflammation of the intestine, with
pain, diarrhea, bloody stools, and often a fever above
38.3°C (101°F). The causes of dysentery include
bacteria (such as Shigella), protozoa (such as ame-
bae), parasitic worms (such as schistosomes), and
viruses. Dysentery can be fatal because it can cause
severe dehydration. Treatment includes rapid rehy-
dration, sometimes via IV, and medication.
dysentery, amebic
See 
amebic dysentery.
dysfunction, erectile
See 
erectile dysfunction.
dysgraphia
A specific developmental disability that
affects a person’s handwriting ability. Problems may
include fine-motor-muscle control of the hands and/or
processing difficulties. Sometimes occupational